Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfskat5&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFSKAT5’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; durable dark green-colored leaves; strong upright flowering stems; incurved decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow green-colored ray florets; relative tolerance to low and high production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Apr. 30, 2021

Ser. No.: 63/182,480

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the priority benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFSKAT5’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Japanese Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Jun. 21, 2021, application number 35518. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Jul. 12, 2021, application number A212813. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFSKAT5’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with unique and attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in September, 2017 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR 2014.2773-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR 10131, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFSKAT5’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFSKAT5’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Durable dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Incurved decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow         green-colored ray florets.     -   6. Relatively tolerant to low and high production temperatures.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are darker         yellow green in color than ray florets of plants of the female         parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have acute apices         whereas leaves of plants of the male parent selection have         rounded apices.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are lighter         yellow green in color than ray florets of plants of the male         parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Anastasia Green’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,032. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Anatasia Green’ in inflorescence size as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences than plants of ‘Anastasia Green’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering stein of ‘DLFSKAT5’ grown as a disbud-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘DLFSKAT5’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 7 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-type plants and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFSKAT5’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR             2014.2773-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number KR             10131, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at temperatures about 24° C.

-   -   -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous incurved decorative-type             cut flower that is typically grown as a single stein             disbud-type; upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and             rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 73.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 75.1 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 32 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 71.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately to densely             pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stein color, developing.—Close to a blend of 144A             and 144B.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146B; at the             ridges, close to 148B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 15.4 cm. Width: About 10.1 cm. Shape, in overall             outline: Broadly ovate to broadly elliptic. Apex: Abruptly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely             dentate to senate; sinuses divergent to parallel and medium             to deep in depth; slightly undulate. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately             velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Densely pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;             slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to a blend of NN137A,             147A and N189A; venation, close to 146A. Fully developed             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to             146C to 146D. Petioles: Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter:             About 3.5 mm by 5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 147B; edges,             slightly darker than 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to             146C; edges, close to 147B. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About             4.5 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate; apex, short apiculate; base,             broadly cuneate; margins, entire. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy.             Color, upper surface: Close to a blend of NN137A, 147A and             N189A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.

-   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with incurved             narrowly oblanceolate tubular ray florets and tubular disc             florets; inflorescences, rotate and flattened globular in             overall shape; inflorescences borne perpendicular to             peduncles and face upright; ray and disc florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             55 days later when grown as a disbud-type. type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior             environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a             disbud-type, only the terminal inflorescence is allowed to             develop; plants of the new Chrysanthemum are typically not             grown as a spray-type, however, if not disbudded, about 19             inflorescence buds will develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 12.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 3.9 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm; inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Broad flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B and             145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About             2.6 cm. Shape: Flattened ovoid. Texture and luster: Slightly             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral             bracts, close to 137B and 138A; developing ray florets,             close to N144D to 145A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 440 arranged in             about twelve whorls. Length: About 3.9 cm, varying between             1.1 cm and 5.3 cm. Width: About 8 mm, varying between 3 mm             and 14 mm. Shape: Incurved narrowly oblanceolate tubular;             apices are strongly concave and incurved. Apex: Acute to             broadly acute. Base: Fused, tubular. Margin: Entire; not             undulate. Aspect: About 45° from vertical. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 154C; towards the apex, close to 150A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 154B; towards the apex, close to             150A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 154D; towards             the apex, close to 154C; venation, similar to lamina colors;             color does not change with subsequent development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 150A; venation, close to             150A; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About three randomly             arranged at the center of the receptacle; disc florets             typically do not completely develop. Length: About 6 mm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Tubular. Apex: Obtuse.             Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and             outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when             opening: Towards the apex, close to 144A; mid-section and             towards the base, close to 1D; at the base, close to 145D.             Color, fully opened: Towards the apex, close to 143B;             mid-section, close to 144C; towards the base, close to 155C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 46             arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width:             About 4 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong to narrowly ovate. Apex:             Bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A; lateral margins, translucent             and close to 157C and apical margins tinged with close to             N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B and 138A; lateral             margins, translucent and close to 157C and apical margins             tinged with close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:             Moderately to densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 138A; at the ridges, close to 138B to 138C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: To date, stamen development             has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.             Gynoecium: Present only on ray florets as disc florets do             not fully develop. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length:             About 7 mm. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color: Close to             151D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151B. Ovary color: Close             to 157D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.

-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Chrysanthemum plants grown under commercial conditions.

-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSKAT5’ as illustrated and described. 